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Behind The Hit With Rising Country Star: Kane Brown

Posted by Universal Music Publishing on
21 December 2016

Breakout country artist and UMPG writer Kane Brown’s self-titled debut album debuted No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and Top 10 on the Billboard 200, marking the biggest debut country album of the past two years and earning Brown consecutive Top 10 Billboard 200 and back-to-back Top 5 Billboard Country projects in less than a year. Hailed as "one of country music’s most promising newcomers” (Music Row) and as an “artist to pay attention to” (Rolling Stone Country), he co-penned seven of the album’s 11 tracks on Kane Brown, which quickly resonated among fans and critics alike and hit No. 1 on the iTunes Top Country Albums chart as well as Top 10 all genre in the US. Brown signed to UMPG Nashville last year and has since been named a 2016 “Artist To Watch” by Billboard, Rolling Stone, Taste of Country, HITS, and The Huffington Post.

"I'm so grateful to be part of the Universal Music Publishing team. The collaborations they set up with their incredible writers helped me write my best songs over the past year. And I am proud that through those songs I can tell my life story on this album” - Brown.

“Kane’s charismatic voice matched with his magnetic look screams superstar and the level at which he connects with his fans is revolutionary in our format. We are honored to be the home of Kane's songs for years to come,” adds UMPG Nashville EVP/General Manager Kent Earls.

The Georgia-native first independently grew his social fan base to 3-million-plus followers before signing with RCA Nashville earlier this year. Brown has been featured by “Ellen,” “TODAY Show,” USA TODAY, The New York Times, Washington Post, Billboard, People, US Weekly, and Seventeen Magazine and was selected to Ticketmaster’s first-ever New Music Favorites series which recognizes up-and-coming stand-out talent. He is currently headlining the Monster Energy Outbreak Kane Brown “A’int No Stopping Us Now" Tour through January. For a full list of tour dates and more information, visit www.kanebrownmusic.com.

Kane took some time from his busy promotional schedule to give us some insight behind the crafting of his new hit, “Thunder in the Rain.”

Brown: Actually I was shopping in Wal-mart and noticed this headline "Thunder in the Rain" on a magazine and it just stuck with me. I brought it up in a writing session with Josh and Matt. We all really liked it and it evolved into a song about two unstoppable forces.

Q. Was the song intended for your album, or another artist?

Brown: I cut it for my album. But you know, I’m a huge Keith Urban fan and he’d do an amazing cover of it :)

Q. Where were you when the song came to fruition?

Brown: I co-wrote the song with Josh Hoge and Matt McVaney. We wrote it at Matt's studio in Nashville, TN

Q. Did the song change a lot from the initial demo to the final recording?

Brown: A lot of the original demo is actually in the final recording. Matt went back and added more instruments and I sang a new vocal.

Q. Where were you the first time you heard it play on the radio?

Brown: I’ve been so busy with the new album, I haven’t even heard it yet! But I’m excited by the feedback and response from our friends in radio.

Q. Which song are most proud of that you have written, and why?

Brown: There is a song on my new album called "Learning" that I'm most proud of. It's my life story in 3 minutes. I wrote it with Shy Carter and Sam Ellis and I wanted to let people know that even if you're going through hard times, things will get better. I want to be a role model to people that may be growing up in a difficult situation because that's what I have had to overcome in my life.

Q. Who is your favorite songwriter of all time?

Brown: How do you pick just one? Craig Morgan who wrote one of my favorite songs of all time caled "Almost Home." Shania Twain is important to me personally because my Mom used to sing me her songs as lullabies. And Eminem because his lyrics are so good. But there are also many people I don't know who wrote great songs like "Don't Take the Girl" and "3 Wooden Crosses."